Outdoors: Check first if you can own that exotic wild pet

A South Carolina woman I know owns a pet serval. This sleek and gorgeous spotted African wild cat is rarely encountered on safari.

In 25 years, I've seen it just a handful of times hunting the savannah; typically, it would leap high to snatch a bird out of the air or pounce in high grass on a hidden mouse that it detected with radar-like hearing.

Like many unusual wild pets for sale in America — even very rare ones — this cat was legally bred in captivity and easily bought. Serval kittens sell for about $6,000.

Locally, many pets are illegally taken out of the wild, purchased on the Internet, or acquired just over the border in Rhode Island (think caimans and piranhas), where laws have sometimes differed from ours.

MassWildlife just sent out notification of changes in the Massachusetts laws on wild pets.

Some new species like the adorable sugar glider are now legal. This air-gliding opossum from Australia with enchanting, big dark eyes and a tennis racket markings down its forehead reminds me of our flying squirrel. Thermo-regulated, it becomes torpid in the cold and active in the heat.

Most of the other newly permitted wild species are reptiles, including the green tree python from Australia and some Pacific islands. They grow to 6 feet and weigh about 5 pounds, with females, as in most snakes, growing a little bigger than males.

The emerald tree boa originates in the South American rain forest. Both snakes can be bred in captivity, so supplying pet demand can be met without removing individuals from the wild.

Other newly permitted species include the whiptail lizard jungle runners that range naturally from Mexico and the Caribbean down through South America; true chameleons, from Africa, Madagascar, and southern Asia; frilled lizards, from Australia and New Guinea; spine-tailed lizards, from East Africa; and the spiny-tailed monitor, from Australia.

One important new prohibition is possession of the red-eared slider, the most popular pet turtle in America. Naturally occurring in our South, they were formerly legal here, but too many people released them in local waters when they no longer wanted them.

The red-eared sliders unfortunately have now become established as a breeding non-native species in Massachusetts, competing with our native species. People who own specimens acquired before the Jan. 3, 2014 change in the law are grandfathered and may continue to keep them until they die.

Before you acquire any wild animal to keep, check out the "Wildlife as Pets" link on the MassWildlife website at mass.gov/dfw/wildlife-as-pets.

Moose population down in New Hampshire

Last summer, tourists had more difficulty seeing moose up north. Pulling a moose permit in the New Hampshire lottery is proving even harder. A herd that numbered about 7,500 in the late 1990s is down 40 percent. Permits have been cut 60 percent to only 275 recently. Expect further cuts.

Moose are down almost everywhere across North America, with Maine being an exception. Global warming has resulted in a surge in moose-parasitizing ticks sucking the blood out of them.

A retired New Hampshire Fish & Game Department biologist is crusading to get America to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions before we lose our moose entirely.

More positively, the Boone & Crockett Club just announced that a new world-record moose was taken last year in the Yukon. Scoring an amazing 263? with a spread of 75? inches, its widely palmated antlers broke by a full 2 inches the previous world record taken in Alaska back in 1994. One side had 17 points, the other 19.

Ironically, the hunter was hunting just for winter meat, not a trophy. With no intentions of mounting it, he cavalierly cut off the antlers with a chain saw, carelessly nicking one of them, and even discarded the cape. His rifle was an unscoped, mild-mannered, Chevrolet-like .303 with open sights. The 180-grain Winchester ammunition was more than sufficient to bring down the big bull at 35 yards.

Archery program for youths

Teachers, principals, superintendents and school committees can take advantage of a special physical education opportunity for their kids.

MassWildlife is offering the chance for Massachusetts schools to participate in the National Archery in Schools Program, which it will administer.

This is a great and inexpensive addition to athletic programs. Call (508) 389-6300 for information.

Saturday — Spencer Fish and Game Club Ice Derby, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., $10 per person for two holes. Breakfast, lunch, prizes, and even someone to cut holes if you need them. Four golden trout have been stocked. Info: Chris Cournoyer at jcourno105@charter.net.